Birds of Paradise 2008

home of Cozy Silkies

First hatch with buff, blue, white and lavender. 

 

Lavender 

Working on a new variety is definitely a thrilling challenge. The season started here in late March with lavender chicks hatching GREAT! As the season has gone on they have slowed to a STOP. I don't believe they like hot weather at all. My good friend Deb, of Fawke's Feathers, has said that they are definitely a work in progress. There is still a need to continue improving the type, especially in the cockerels. I do see improvements over last season but we aren't there yet.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

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Day old lavender chicks hatch with dark stripes that fade as they feather out. The soft gray/lavender color remains nearly the same. 

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When I use the term "mutts ", this is what I am talking about. The term is describing an off colored chick. These chicks will feather out dark with lots of gold and silver in their wings and hackles. Although they can't be shown most are of great type and are carrying the lavender gene. They can be bred back to a lavender colored bird and produce 50% lavender colored and 50% "mutts". This was my hatch with a lavender roo and my good black pullet carrying the lavender gene. Those pullets are what I refer to as black split to lavender. They SHOW black color but I know they are gene carriers. 

 

Buff 

Along with the challenge of lavender I find buff  hard to get right. It is another year to try and get a clear color from my cockerels as well as the pullets. They are by far the most fertile and best hatching eggs I am seeing this season. All the chicks are strong and develop fast. 

 

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Black ~ Splash~ Blue 

Three new colors for my breeding pens. I had to work hard to manage the space but if you do one why not do all three colors? They just seem to go together. Late June finally saw me with hens and pullets to go with the good quality cockerels I had gotten early in the season from Fawke's Feathers. The first eggs have just started hatching.  

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White 

White is always my strong variety. My hens are great egg layers. I have used three different cockerels to get the job done. They seem to go hot and cold with the girls, not giving me the best fertility. 

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Both showgirl and silkie chicks are hatched with vaulted and non vaulted skulls. Notice these two silkie chicks above. 

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Groups in growing pens! 

It is hot and in triple digits here in Texas. They had to get on the ground to help stay cool. BOY that is a lot of fluff! I am misting them in late afternoons with a very fine mist in front of the fans. 

 

 

The Dynasty Girls

Alexis and Krystal

2007

 

With all my established colors I am breeding showgirls along with the silkies. White and buff are breeding groups with the promise of black, splash and blue by the end of summer.  

 

 

 

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